Antigua & Barbuda Falcons became the first team to book their place in the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a stunning nine wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Kensington Oval.
The Falcons recorded the second fastest win in CPL history as Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim took four wickets each, including a hat-trick from Khan to bowl the Warriors out for 76. Rahkeem Cornwall’s 49 in 16 balls ensured there would be no Guyana miracle with the Falcons producing the performance of the tournament so far.
The Falcons backed their bowlers and put the Warriors into bat who made a steady start inside the PowerPlay. It looked a sensible strategy as the wicket has seemingly got easier to bat on as the game has gone on in recent weeks, particularly in Barbados. It has often been about how many wickets you can keep in hand rather than how many runs you score, and the Warriors appeared to have got that memo, finishing the PowerPlay 34 for 1.
However, the Falcons’ quality bowling attack has been largely what has got them to this point and that came to the fore quickly after the PowerPlay. First it was Sufyan Moqim, drawing mistakes from Glenn Phillips and Mohammad Haris. Phillips didn’t get enough on it and was caught at deep mid-wicket. Haris walked straight away after feathering behind to Amir Jangoo.
Moqim handed the reins to his partner in crime, Shadab Khan who produced a stunning hat-trick of googlies in his second over to completely destroy the Warriors middle order. First it was Shimron Hetmyer who clothed one to long on. Next, Mehidy Hasan Miraz who was trapped LBW in front by another dazzling googly. Upon review, the umpire’s decision was upheld. He rounded it off with the best ball of the bunch, a perfectly flighted googly that crashed through the gate of Quentin Sampson and sparked joyous celebrations amongst the Falcons fielders. The Warriors were left reeling at 45 for 6.
The next over, it was back to Moqim who picked up two more, as Khary Pierre and Shai Hope were bowled and LBW respectively. Two balls later Shadab picked up his fourth and the two were trading wickets as Imran Tahir went for 1. There was a mini revival by Romario Shepherd, who found two boundaries before Shamar Springer finished the Warriors off and left them all out for 76.
Imran Tahir’s method of fighting fire with fire was crushed early on as Rahkeem Cornwall came out in no mood to wait around. The Warriors’ captain took the ball himself and was carted around the ground by Cornwall’s power hitting. Cornwall took Tahir, Miraz and Khary Pierre to task with some exquisite shots in the restricted period and ensured there would be no doubt as to who would reach the final on the night. He raced towards his half century, nearly levelling Andre Russell’s record for the fastest 50 after just 14 balls. He was frustratingly left stranded on 49 as he was caught by Hetmyer off the bowling of Tahir, but he had left Evin Lewis and Amir Jangoo just 27 more to get.
Lewis, having surrendered the strike to Cornwall earlier on, picked up the mantle and began to punish the bowling change to Shamar Joseph. He took Joseph for 21 in six deliveries, whilst suffering with cramp. Jangoo only had time to face four deliveries, ensuring he left with a boundary to his name, before Lewis fittingly hit the winning runs with just 32 balls bowled.
The Falcons advance to their first CPL final on Sunday in frightening form. The Warriors will need to pick themselves up off the canvas and go again, against the Kingsmen in the final eliminator tomorrow night. The winner will face the Falcons for the CPL crown.
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